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Wheels of progress

Tomorrow is International Day of Disabled Persons. RANA SIDDIQUI meets Arun Sondhi who has invented `India Wheelchair'

PHOTO: V. SUDERSHAN

ASCENT Arun Sondhi demonstrates how the India Wheelchair user can climb stairs

The best way to combat a problem is to face it. And who knows it better than Arun Sondhi, a 45-year-old St. Stephens College alumnus who was a boxing captain, football player, athlete and also the winner of National Award in physical fitness. But that was in 1983.

Arun met with an accident the following year, which left him bed-ridden for two years and turned him into a paraplegic (lower limb paralysis most commonly caused by spinal chord injury). He was also amputated below the left knee.

There was no proper rehabilitation centre in Delhi in those days to help him take up the threads of his life on a wheelchair. Neither were there suitable wheelchairs to make an active user independent. So Sondhi went to Sweden.

After completing courses from Sweden's various rehab centres, Sondhi has now invented the India Wheelchair that promises to revolutionise the lifestyle of people with locomotive disabilities. Besides, he has also improved upon the already existing Mukta Wheelchair, bringing out the Mukta Foldable and the Mukta Light. These were created at India Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC), New Delhi, founded by mountaineer Major Ahluwalia. He did it with the help of Multivac India, a company that provided aid to the disabled. India Wheelchair costs Rs. 6,600 while Mukta costs Rs. 20,0000 and 27,000 respectively. Both are lifetime products.

The difference?

India Wheelchair is self-propelled while the old wheelchairs need to be pushed by someone. The user needs only half-an-hour's training to operate it and be independent, even on busy roads.

The user does not need assistance all the time. Easily foldable and collapsible, it can fit into the boot of the car or an autorickshaw for it has quick release rear wheels with push button hubs.

It comes in two sizes for children and adults, and are lightweight; 11.8 and 12.7 kg, respectively.

Moreover, this wheelchair is more stable sideways and doesn't fall back while lifting it up as it has vertical frame folds and adjustable anti-tip wheels for landing on inclined, tilting or obstacle-infested surface.

Arun also trains the wheelchair user. There are power exercises like boxing, lifting, table tennis etc at ISIC.

"Such training was unthinkable earlier as it always carried the risk of falling off the chair. With this chair not only is the risk is gone but the users can even participate in Special Olympic Games," says Arun who has himself won several European, Nordic and Swedish championship in power lifting.

Arun Sondhi can be contacted at 9810936760.

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